Re: [LM_NET] SKILLs Act legislation update

[Sara Kelly Johns <sarakellyjohns@YAHOO.COM>]

Thanks,Kathy, for posting this so quickly to the people who can make a difference 
for kids.
 
 I want to reiterate Kathy's message...it is really easy to ask for support from 
our legislators for this VERY important legislation by using the capwiz software.  
I went the the ALA Legislator Center's link, followed the steps and it didn't take 
much effort to send messages to my senators and representative. And I've already 
received a reply from one of them!  I was also able to send messages to 6 other 
people to encourage them to ask for support from their legislators. 
 
 This chance to make a difference is a great examples of the partnership between 
AASL Affiliate Assembly concerns, AASL members' requests for action, work by AASL 
committees and staff and "Big" ALA's resources and staff. The Washington Office is 
working HARD for school libraries and students. 

Now we need to speak LOUDLY in support of this legislation. It can make a 
difference for our students' success if they have school librarians in every school 
and strong school library programs. YOU can make a difference by taking action.
 
 Thanks, Sara Kelly Johns
 AASL President 

Kathy Agarwal <kagarwal@ALA.ORG> wrote: Good afternoon,

On Thursday, August 2, Representatives Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Vernon
Ehlers (R-MI) sent a Dear Colleague letter asking Members of Congress to
co-sponsor H.R. 2864, The Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and
Libraries or SKILLs Act. 
 
The SKILLs Act

 - Requires school districts, to the extent feasible, to ensure that
every school within the district employs at least one highly qualified
school library media specialist in each school library;

 - Defines highly qualified school library media specialists as those
who have a bachelor’s degree and have obtained full state
certification as a school library media specialist or passed the state
teacher licensing examination, with state certification in library media
in such state;

 - Establishes as a state goal that there be at least one highly
qualified school library media specialist in every public school no
later than the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year;

 - Broadens the focus of training, professional development, and
recruitment activities to include school library media specialists;

 - Ensures that funds will serve elementary, middle, and high school
students; and

 - Requires books and materials to be appropriate for and engage the
interest of students in all grade levels and students with special
learning needs, including English language learners.

Urgent Action needed: This legislation is critical to the future of
school library media specialists. Please contact your Representative
immediately and ask them to co-sponsor the SKILLs Act.

For more information visit
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslissues/SKILLS_Act.cfm

Thanks!
Kathy Agarwal
AASL

 

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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sara Kelly Johns
AASL 2007-08 President
Associate Editor for AASL Community, Knowledge Quest
Lake Placid Middle/High School LMC
34 School Street
Lake Placid, NY 12946
518-523-2474, ext. 4132
FAX: 518-523-4861
johns@northnet.org
SaraKJohns@aol.com
<http://fromtheinsideout.blogspace.com>

"Information is the currency of democracy." -- Thomas Jefferson

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